This was followed by a resolution, introduced by Mr.Sloane, an administration member, requiring the Secretary of War to furnish the House with a copy of the proceedings of a court-martial ordered by Gen.

Jackson, in 1814, for the trial of certain Tennessee militiamen, who were condemned and shot.
At this session of Congress may be dated the introduction of a practice which has become an evil of the greatest magnitude in the present day.
Reference is had to the custom of making the halls of Congress a mere arena, where, instead of attending to the legitimate business of legislating for the benefit of the country at large, political gladiators spend much of their time in wordy contests, designed solely for the promotion of personal or party purposes, to the neglect of the interests of their constituents.

From this has grown the habit of speech-making by the hour, on topics trivial in their nature, in which the people have not the slightest interest, and which quite often, are totally foreign to the subject ostensibly in debate.

Valuable time and immense treasures are thus squandered to no profitable purpose.

Should not this evil be abated?
The stern integrity of Mr.Adams, and his unyielding devotion to principle, were made to operate against him.